Spiritual Formation
In the summer of 2020 we began taking a deep dive into the area of Spiritual Formation practices. There is so much information available that it can be hard to find specific principles we’ve discussed so far, much less remember all the details. Hopefully the following will help.
Below are lists of spiritual formation practices, as curated by various authors. No list is completely comprehensive, and there is a lot of overlap. Items from the lists below will link to separate pages with details about each practice, but until then we hope the lists alone will be helpful as reminders of the myriad of options open to us as we spend time with God.
These are meant to help us, not to serve as formulas or requirements. Just as Jesus told the Pharisees, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:23-27), the concept behind these practices is to help us to worship, as a means to an end which is intimacy with God. If a particular practice does not work for you, causes frustration, or otherwise impedes your time with God, there is no need to dwell on that particular practice. At some point later you might wish to stretch yourself into the the ones that are more difficult for you, but that comes after you find the ones that are the most useful in your walk with God.
NOTE: This is a project that will remain under construction for a while, but new content should be available weekly. Various lists and collections will be offered, from a variety of sources. Last update: 09-26-2020
Source #1: Adele Ahlberg Calhoun’s List from Spiritual Disciplines Handbook:
Notice Calhoun’s intentional use of the acronym “WORSHIP” to form the first letter of each heading.
Worship
- Celebration
- Gratitude
- Holy Communion
- Rule of Life|Rule for Life
- Sabbath
- Visio Divina
- Worship
Open Myself to God
- Contemplation
- Awareness Review – Examen – Examination of Conscience
- Iconography
- Journaling
- Pilgrimage
- Practicing the Presence
- Rest
- Retreat
- Self-Care
- Simplicity
- Slowing
- Teachability
- Unplugging
Relinquish the False Self
- Confession and Self-Examination
- Detachment
- Discernment
- Mindfulness and Attentiveness
- Secrecy
- Silence
- Sobriety
- Solitude
- Spiritual Direction
- Submission
- Waiting
Share My Life with Others
- Accountability Partner
- Chastity
- Community
- Covenant Group
- Discipling
- Face-to-Face Connection
- Hospitality
- Mentoring
- Service
- Small Group
- Spiritual Friendship
- Unity
- Witness
Hear God’s Word
- Bible Study
- Lectio Divina and Devotional Reading
- Meditation
- Memorization
Incarnate the Word of Christ
- Blessing Others/Encouragement
- Care of the Earth
- Compassion
- Control of the Tongue
- Forgiveness
- Humility
- Justice
- Solidarity in Jesus’ Sufferings
- Stewardship
- Truth Telling
Pray
- Breath Prayer
- Centering Prayer
- Contemplative Prayer
- Conversational Prayer
- Fasting
- Fixed-Hour Prayer
- Inner-Healing Prayer
- Intercessory Prayer
- Labyrinth Prayer
- Listening Prayer
- Liturgical Prayer
- Prayer of Lament
- Prayer Partners
- Praying Scripture
- Prayer of Recollection
- Prayer Walking
- Welcoming Prayer
Source #2: Richard Foster’s List from Celebration of Discipline:
The Inward Disciplines
- Meditation
- Prayer
- Fasting
- Bible Study
The Outward Disciplines
- Simplicity
- Solitude
- Submission
- Service
The Corporate Disciplines
- Confession
- Worship
- Guidance
- Celebration
Source #3: Adapted from Robert Mulholland’s Invitation to a Journey
Prayer: Relationship building
- Individual oriented
- In community
Spiritual Reading: Lectio Divina
- Silence (Silencio) (Solitude)
- Reading (Lectio)
- Meditation (Meditato)
- Response (Oratio)
- Contemplation (contemplatio)
Spiritual Guidance
- Incarnation (Incarnatio)
- Service
- Simplicity
- Submission
Liturgy: Work of the People
- Worship (Individual; Corporate)
- Daily Devotions (Daily Office; Discipleship; Confession)
- Study (Informational Reading)
- Fasting
- Retreat (Solitude)
- Celebration
Source #4: Odyssey in Christ
- Safe Place Prayer
- Prayer of Blessing (see also Blessing Others/Encouragement)